Thomas Teale
July 17, 2012
Thomas Anthony Teale, Jr., was born 7 November 1925, in Mount Ayr, Iowa, to Thomas Anthony Teale, Sr., and Leota (House) Teale. Tom passed away 17 July 2012, at Kavanaugh House on 56th Street in Des Moines.
Tom’s mother Leota passed away in March of 1932. His father Tom, Sr., his sister Rose Marie, and brother Clifford Dean moved to the home of Tom, Sr.’s father and mother, Charles and Teresa (Rauch) Teale, where they joined Charles William Teale, a cousin whose mother had also passed away. The children were raised by Grandma Rauch Teale, and all resided in that home until reaching adulthood.
Tom, Jr., attended the Mount Ayr School, graduating from high school with the class of 1943. While in school he participated in many before and after school activities, with football as his favorite.
When he attained the age of 18 in November of 1943, Tom was inducted in the United States Army at Camp Dodge. He was transferred to Camp Fannon, Texas, where he completed basic training and the Infantry Replacement Course. Upon completion of that training he was transferred to Company M. 14th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division. The division was transferred to the European Theatre of Operation in December of 1944, landing at LeHarve, France. The combat phase began at Strasburg France under General Patch Seventh Army. The division remained in that Army until reaching the West bank of the Rhine River, when it was transferred to the Third Army under General George Patton. At the conclusion of the war, the division was in Austria and returned to Bavaria, Germany, for occupation duty.
On return to the United States in April of 1946, he was assigned to Camp Atterberry, Indiana, where he was discharged 6 May 1946.
Tom returned to Mount Ayr upon discharge, and lived with his father and grandmother Teale until enrolling in Simpson College in September of 1946. While at Simpson College, Tom participated in many activities -- some good, some bad. His favorite again was football, where he lettered in his Junior and Senior years. In later life Tom was awarded and placed in double “S” award. He graduated from Simpson College in 1950, with majors in physical education, sociology, and history.
In 1951, he joined the Des Moines Police Department as a patrolman. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1958, to Lieutenant in 1963, Captain in 1965 and Assistant Chief in 1970. He retired in 1991 after 40 years of service.
He enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in 1952. Based on his experience in World War II and civilian education, he received a direct commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. He advanced through the ranks until he retired a Brigadier General in 1982.
He is survived by his daughter, Leota (Ronald) Lipovac; son, Thomas A. (Jean) Teale, III; and his granddaughters, Mikaila and Kelsey Teale.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 20, 2012, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, followed by burial at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Ayr Community High School, c/o Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.
The family would like to thank the staff at Iowa Methodist for their compassionate care, especially Dr. Jeff DeFrancisco.
Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Philip and Cathy. Stone
07/23/2012
We were away from Des Moines area last week and didn't return until late Friday afternoon. So our comments are belated.
I am a member of the Mt. Ayr High School class of 1958 and have been reacquainted with Tom at the recent Mt. Ayr High School reunions held in Des Moines. I was so pleased to again meet and enjoy Tom and his continued interest in everyone with a Mt. Ayr connection. Our deepest sympathies to the family. He was a great man.
Also, I lived in Mount Ayr one block from 'Grandma Teal" and remember the Teal clan meeting there in a large two story yellow house at what is now the corner of Lincoln and East Monroe Streets. The house if gone, but I do remember meeting "Grandma" and can now see her sitting in a rocking chair near the east window.
I do remember also, Cliff Teale, who worked for a automobile company, and his daughters Kerry and Margorie who were about my age. I don't think they were at Mount Ayr schools a long time, but I know the family moved to Caspar, Wyoming when Cliff accepted a position with a auto dealer there. Lost track of the girls.
I'll continued to have great memories of Tom and his special interest in all things Mount Ayr.
Marcia Mahoney
07/20/2012
Leota, Ron, Tom and Jean....I just learned of your dad's passing...a friend forwarded me the obituary. I have thought of you all often and was always proud to be related to you and your wonderful dad. What a great and loving man he was...he made a strong but gentle mark on all of us and all of Des Moines. I am 8 hours away from you and so I can't make it in time for the funeral. Some day I hope to get back to Mt. Ayr and pay my proper sympathies. Until then, I am thinking of you, my birth-family.
Dave Williamson, Runnells, Iowa
07/20/2012
Tom and Leota,
Your father was a man among men. I was so fortunate to have worked for him. He had impressed upon me to take care of the little things and stay disciplined. Things, I still hold close too me.
When my boy passed away, Chief Teale sat in the front row at the funeral and then I knew he was a true friend. He shook his fist at me as he always did. I knew what he meant; to keep pushing ahead. He offered and expressed himself to me in a way that helped get through a difficult time.
I feel honored to have known and been a friend of your father.
Chief Teale, may God bless you.
Dave
Raymond Rexroat
07/20/2012
Chief Teale,
The United States of America, the State of Iowa, and the city of Des Moines, are all better places to live due to your service. Rest in peace sir. Your tour of duty is complete,
suzanne witte
07/19/2012
Tom, Jean, Kelsey, McKayla...the Witte family is thinking of you!
Kylie Weber
07/19/2012
Tomas':
Please know you and your family are in my thoughts.
Kylie
Janet & Keith Edwards
07/18/2012
We're thinking of you and your families, Tom and Leota. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
casey cockayne
07/18/2012
tom was an awsome person,god be with him..
Keegan Perez
07/18/2012
Tom was the best neighbor anyone could ever have, he was always with me either at his house playing checkers or watching tv. He even went to my sporting events all around the metro. He lived a great life.
GOD BLESS YOU TOM!
Cindi Dahnke
07/18/2012
Tom,
Thinnking of you and your family at this difficult time.
Cindi
Susan Miller
07/18/2012
Tom, I am so sorry for your loss. Your father sounded like a character, similar to you! My thoughts are with you.
Rick Carson
07/18/2012
Leota and family.
Tom was truly a great man in all that he did. He was a mentor to many in the police department and in the service. I will certainly miss his ever present sense of humor and our bantering at breakfast meetings and luncheons.
Jan and I offer our heartfelt condolenses to you and your family. I know he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Donna Dolezal
07/18/2012
Tom- so sorry to hear about your father- he sounds like he was a great man.
Ronald German
07/18/2012
To the Teele Family,
I was sorry to hear of your dad passing. He was truly a leader. A man who servrd his country; his city; his neighbors; and his family.
My childhood was influenced by Tom, along with Jasper Trout and Judge Don Tidrick, all of whom lived in the near north side neighborhood where the five German kids were raised
Tom remembered me and spoke of those days whenever we met.
May God bless Tom and be with your family during this time of remembrance.
Doyle R. St.John
07/18/2012
Leota I had just been thinking about you when you called and was very pleased to hear from you, however the message you revealed was not welcome, I am so sorry that we have lost your father he was such a pleasure to visit with I regret not having the privilege to have spent more time with him as he was such an Honorable Gentleman who I have no doubts will be greatly missed by many including myself. It is a rarity that one has the priviledge of even knowing a man of his caliber a man who so honorable served his country we are truly Blessed you to have him as your Father and I to have him as a cousin. I offer you my deepest sympathy's for you loss. Wish we could be there.
Love Doyle & Shelia St.John Canton Texas